Intern of the Week: Aaron Samuels for Psychology

Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:41:47 -0400
internoftheweek, internship, psychology

Name: Aaron Samuels

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: BITHGROUP TECHNOLOGIES

Major(s)/Minor(s): Psychology

Expected Graduation Year: June 2014

Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service-learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

During the fall and part of the summer, I worked under the current Human Resource Manager, Robert H. Greene III, at BITHGROUP TECHNOLOGIES, an IT consulting firm that also provides a wide range of services to the City of Baltimore, MD. The majority of my time was spent shadowing Mr. Greene and observing the various daily activities he undertook, none of which were routine. On several occasions I was tasked with researching new potential employees, reviewing newly submitted resume's, updating employee profiles both on file and online, and organizing certain in office events.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I enjoyed the "hands-on" experience I obtained throughout my time there. I spent the first half of my summer researching what an H.R. Generalist does but I could never get a full picture until I started working there. I also enjoyed sitting in on personal conversation involving employee disputes and personal issues, it was there that I found exactly what roll psychology played in this occupation. My manager was especially outstanding in these types of situations as well. It was almost as if he could read minds! That's how great he was at reading people. Not only that, but he always seemed to know the right way to approach delicate situations and how to acknowledge the employee's difficulties without compromising his own feelings on the issue.

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?

I don't think I would have obtained the intrapersonal social skills here at my old job. For example, I have always had trouble remembering names because I was never really motivated too until I came to the company. I've noticed a huge difference in how people react when you use their name versus a general pronoun. I know that sounds arbitrary and just a bit cheesy but it really is something I've come to value.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Never assume anything and always double check yourself: If there is something you don’t know or not sure of, FIND IT OUT! If you only feel like an employee remembers an important date or you believe that they may have completed a task, you should still follow up on it personally if it’s possible.

How do you see your experience as meaningful? This might involve skills you’ve gained, information you’ve learned, mentors you’ve connected with, or projects you’ve completed.

I know now what I'm getting into, that was my main goal in doing this internship. I know now the person I have to become in order perform this kind of work. Now it's just a matter of getting certified.

Please provide a short quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process.

If you get an opportunity, take it! If you have the connections and resources, use them! Do not wait! What I loved most about this entire experience is that I could make mistakes and not be fired. And you will make mistakes. Better to do it as an intern than when you have a career on the line. This is the rationale behind an internship, so you can say on your resume. "Yes! I have experience!" Because as I've experienced with a lot of jobs I've applied for and from working here, most employer's today won't even look at you without this experience.